A rare case of mature cystic teratoma in the emergency department

Abstract

Teratomas are the most common germ cell tumors among pediatric and female patients, which originates from germ cells layers and can be located everywhere in bodies. They are diagnosed by ultrasonography (US), which was characterized by calcification and cystic anechoic view. Our aim is to attract attention to a 21-year-old female patient with complaint of acute abdominal pain diagnosed with teratoma by early radiological imaging. The female patient admitted to the emergency department with a new onset of abdominal pain at the lower and left sides of the abdomen for a week. The suprapubic and left costovertebral angle tenderness were found in her physical examination. We firstly chose US for imaging. The US of the abdomen showed multiple cystic masses around uterus. Heterogeneous cystic and calcified lesions were detected on the patients computerized tomography scan, and considered as teratoma. A laparotomy was performed by gynecologists. At laparotomy, lobulated cystic masses were removed and the left ovary had been detorsioned. She has been discharged after two days of postoperative observation. For patients of young females with abdominal pain such as rare gynecological diseases, teratoma and ovarian torsion, in the emergency department should be considered and early imaging should be performed.

Keywords

• Mature cystic teratoma
• Emergency department
• Ultrasound